The New S.U.F Helsinki Myrsky MY-G Frostpine, the Pilot’s Watch from the North

While most of you are familiar with Sarpaneva, the indie watch company created by Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva, his other brand, S.U.F Helsinki, is slightly more confidential. Standing for Sarpaneva Uhren Fabrik, said to be “Finland, through and through,” S.U.F Helsinki is Stepan’s vision to explore simpler, sportier and more accessible watches… but still inspired by his home country and carrying elements of design unique to the man. The brand’s latest creation, the Myrsky pilot’s watch, is a vintage-inspired tool which you can now get in a limited run with a pine green dial.

While watches under the Sarpaneva name are both highly expressive and priced in a much higher category, timepieces bearing the name S.U.F Helsinki are sportier, more classic and far more attainable. Cool pilot or racing-inspired models that are made for those who want something different, rather unique and not from one of the usual suspects such as Longines, Oris and the likes. The brand has several models in its collection, such as the Vetehinen, a dive watch with a highly original bezel, or the 180 models, field watches that are said to be “the most Finnish watches yet”. And there’s this Myrsky, a pilot’s watch named after a historical Finnish plane, the VL Myrsky – built by Finland’s State Aircraft Factory to fight during WWII and the fastest plane at the time.

The S.U.F Helsinki Myrsky relies on a rather classic design, close to what you’d expect from a so-called Flieger watch, with a 42mm no frills case. That said, the case is made from high-grade Outokumpu stainless steel from Finland (a classic for Sarpaneva), and is relatively thin on the wrist at 10.40mm. Fully brushed, for an instrument-like look and to reduce glare, it is equipped with sapphire crystals on both sides. A cool element, S.U.F. offers the choice between a crown classically positioned at 3 o’clock or a “lefty” version with the crown at 9 o’clock, which somehow gives the watch a more distinctive look.

Several editions of the Myrsky have been released already, and now we have this new Frostpine edition with a pine green dial. A pilot’s watch built for the skies, inspired by the land, as Stepan calls it, the dial is modelled after vintage cockpit instrumentation, with clean, elongated 5-minute graduations and luminous hour dots. But the green colour is more “earthy” and draws from the soul of the forest. The hands, in blued steel with luminous coating, reflect the purity of Finnish lakes. And this edition has a no-date display, for the best. Whether the inspiration speaks to you or not, the colour scheme and dial design are surely appealing.

Inside the case is a fairly classic and modern movement, the Swiss-made Soprod A10, an alternative to the ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200. This automatic movement runs at a 4Hz frequency and stores 42 hours of power reserve. Visible through the sapphire back, it is decorated with Geneva stripes and circular graining.

Worn on a vintage brown leather strap with Sarpaneva stainless steel pin buckle, the Myrsky MY-G Frostpine is also delivered with an additional Grassbay strap in Blue by Erika’s Originals. A limited edition of 50 pieces, this new S.U.F Helsinki Myrsky is now available from the brand’s website at EUR 2,470 (excl. VAT). For more information, please visit sufhelsinki.com.